Timely perform summer Pruning on Tea bushes
According to weather forecasts, Hangzhou will see the end of its Plum rains around July 9th this year, and summer pruning can be conducted in the first and second decades of July. For those tea bushes that underwent heavy pruning after Spring Tea harvest and have shown vigorous growth with new shoots exceeding 50 centimeters in height, summer pruning is necessary.
The purpose of summer pruning on tea bushes: First, it controls the height of the tea canopy; second, it increases the density and quality of autumn shoots while reducing branching; third, it decreases flowering and fruiting in the autumn. By performing summer pruning, high-quality autumn shoots are cultivated, ensuring a high yield of quality spring tea in the following year.
Specific operations for summer pruning: Fertilize before pruning.
1. Trench application of top dressing: Open shallow trenches 10-15 centimeters deep along the rows of tea bushes, apply 30-50 kilograms per mu of high-nitrogen compound fertilizer, and cover with Soil afterward.
2. Use a motorized double-person pruner or an electric single-person pruner to trim approximately 20 centimeters above the previous cut (leaving 3-5 leaves on the new branches grown after spring tea harvest).
Special emphasis: Pay attention to choosing the right time for pruning. Avoid doing so during continuous high temperatures and strong sunlight. Take advantage of brief periods of cooling and overcast rainy weather. This prevents the lower leaves from being suddenly exposed to high temperatures and strong light, which could cause scorching damage after pruning.
